Tablet dispensing device



July 3, 1962 E. SANNER TABLET DISPENSING DEVICE Filed NOV. 27, 1959 INVENTOR. EDWA R0 SA NEK United States Patent 3,042,256 TABLET DISPENSING DEVICE Edward Sanner, Erie, Pa., assignor to said Edward Sanner and Norbert E. Sanner, both of Erie, Pa., as joint tenants Filed Nov. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 855,646 1 Claim. (Cl. 221301) This invention relates to containers and, more particularly, to dispensing containers for dispensing medical tablets and the like.

Previous containers for dispensing tablets had detent devices thereon which swung laterally and which would not dispense the tablets properly unless the container was held in a particular manner.

In the present invention, a container is provided which will dispense pills when the container is supported in a convenient manner by the operator. The dispenser shown could be made from plastic, metal, or other suitable material. The container is suitable for dispensing aspirin or other similar tablets and it is noted that the operator can operate it with one hand only, including opening the container as well as dispensing the tablet directly from the container into his mouth.

The container is made in the shape of an elongated, relatively thin body so that the tablets lie flat therein. This prevents the tablets from becoming damaged. With the container disclosed, it is possible to dispense the tablets without touching them except to transfer them from the operators hand or directly to this mouth, therefore providing a sanitary dispenser.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dispensing container for tablets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing container whereby tablets can be dispensed with the use of only one hand.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing container for tablets.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing container which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and eflicient to use.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a dispenser according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the dispenser with the cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the cover;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the cover; and

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the cover.

Now with more particular reference to the drawing, a dispensing container has generally rectangular sides 11 connected by relatively narrow side walls 12 and a bottom. The container 10 is open at the top and has the upper rear edge thereof cut away to allow the rear end of the cover to swing down into it. The cover is in the form of a channel and has detents 14 extending outwardly from each side thereof and the detents 14 are received in vertical slots 15 in each depending flange 17 and 18 of the cover.

The flanges 17 and 18 are connected by a top 19 and an overhanging flange 20 is attached to the rear edge of Patented July 3, 1962 the top 19. The flange 20 will swing down into a relieved portion 21 of the container 10 to allow the cover to swing open. The front portion has an overhanging flange 22 which is shorter than the flanges 17 and 18 and which allows a table to slide out between it and an upper edge 23 of the front of the container 10. A detent 24 on one side of the container 10 snaps into embossed portions 25 when the cover is closed to hold it in position. The embossed portions 25 act as hand engaging elements to assist in opening the cover. The tongue 26 is attached to the cover at 27 extends downwardly and forwardly at 28, and then curves downwardly and forwardly at 29.

The container 10 as shown is designed to contain tablets of a size indicated at 30 in proportion to the size of the container. The tablets lie flat on the side of the container 10 when held in a horizontal position with the cover and sides sloping slightly downwardly as shown. Then when the cover is closed, the tongue 26 will be spaced toward a rear edge 32 of the container 10 far enough that tablets 31 at the front edge thereof will slide between the front edge 29 of the tongue 26 and the upper edge 23 of the container 10. The cover may have an embossed portion 35 on each side thereof and this embossed portion may receive a complementary embossed portion on the container.

To dispense tablets, the operator holds the cover in one hand and grasps the front part of the cover between his finger and thumb. The upper rear edge 33 of the cover will swing down and the front will swing up about the portion or pivot 35 and the detents 14 will slide in the slots 15, allowing the front edge of the cover to swing up and the front edge 29 of the tongue 26 to swing between the tablets 3i) and 31, thus allowing thet ablet 31 to drop out into the hand of the operator but restraining the tablet 30 from moving out. A removable bottom 33a is provided which may be snapped oil for filling the container 10. Detents 34 receive dents on the container 10 to hold the bottom 33 in place.

In order to fill the container, the cover can be snapped off and the container 10 readily and conveniently filled. The operator can carry it in his pocket and can readily dispense pills.

For smaller tablets or pills, the tongue 26 must be made longer in order to restrain movement of all the tablets but the one to be dispensed. It will be long enough to allow the tablets to slide out when it is closed but will restrain all but one tablet when it is swung toward open position.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claim.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

A container comprising a hollow body open at one end and of a size suitable to be held in a hand, said body being rectangular in cross section and having an inside Width suitable to support a single layer of tablets lying on edge therein, a cover in the form of a channel disposed over the open end of said body, said cover having flanges overlying the sides of said body adjacent the open end thereof, detents extending outwardly from said body adjacent one end thereof, a slot in one side of said channel, each said detent being received in said slot, and a tongue in the form of a flat piece of material fixed to the bottom of said channel at the distal end thereof and extending toward the end thereof having said slot therein, said tongue hav ing an intermediate part bent from said channel and toward said distal end and extending a distance therefrom substantially equal to the diameter of one of said tablets to be dispensed, said tongue terminating in an end portion inclined to said intermediate part extending from said intermediate part and toward said distal end and terminating a distance greater than the diameter of one said tablet when said cover is closed, said intermediate part and said end portion defining a hook adapted to receive a single said tablet when said cover is in closed position, said end portion swinging between a tablet received in said hook and a tablet next to it as said cover is opened whereby a 10 single tablet may be dispensed, the distal end of said cover being adapted to be grasped betwen the thumb and forefinger of a user while said body is held in the palm of said users hand whereby said user can open said cover and dispense a said tablet into his mouth without touching said tablet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,480,729 Guest Aug. 30, 1949 2,792,961 Gordon May 21, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 975,863 France Oct. 17, 1950 

